Ever since I bought my car I always felt a light lag almost during every shift. Today the car seemed like it was jerking alot so I decided to check out the oil level. When I checked it it was a little less than half empty. After I wiped the dipstick it was dark brown. So I buy oil and everything and top it off, it feels a little better but after I took a look at where I fill up the oil at, the inside has like thick red/brown liquid. Is that the bad oil or should I be worrying about something else at this point? Im taking my car to get an oil change this weekend so hopefully everything will be alright. Is there anything I should be paying close attention to? I dont want my car to die out on me, Ive had TOOO MANNY car problems this month.

When I checked it it was a little less than half empty
I hope by that you mean it was half way between the marks. The two marks are approximately 1qt apart and the level is fine as long as it is between the lines. lower than the bottom line and oil needs to be added.

After I wiped the dipstick it was dark brown
That too is normal. I don't know what oil is in the engine, but BMW synth starts off pretty dark and after even a few hundred to a thousand miles it will look very dark brow, almost black.

but after I took a look at where I fill up the oil at, the inside has like thick red/brown liquid
That sounds like the usual emulsion that forms between oil and the combustion blowby condensates. Many cars don't get driven hard enough, long enough, to boil all of the condensates out of the oil. The emulsion will collect on the cooler parts of the engine, like the filler cap and valve covers. In moderate ambient temperatures it takes at least 20 minutes of sustained highway speed to get all of the engine fully up to temperature where the condensates will begn boil off.An urban driving cycle that doesn't include 30min or more at highway speed at least twice a week will show evidence of emulsion under the valve covers.

BMW's extended oil change intervals don't help in this regard. Even a car that's driven at highway speed for 45-60min a day can benefit from shorter intervals, say one intermediate change in each interval. A driving pattern that includes lots of urban driving suggests oil changes much more often, perhaps as often as every 2000mi. Relatively speaking, oil & filters are cheap, but engines aren't.

I really don't think that jerking has anything to do with your oil level. It's more serious than that. If you're unfamiliar with working on cars, find a good shop and have 'em take a look. If you're close to a service interval, I suggest a good baseline tuneup to go through everything and start fresh.

rjp

Thanks a lot for your help guys. I thought the jerking had nothing to do with the oil at all until I added some. After I left it on for about 2 minutes, I gave it a test drive and the jerking almost went away. Thats why I was suprised. I thought it had something to do with the transmission. Do you guys happen to know how much a tune-up for this matter would cost? or at least what I would need to get checked out?

1. how many miles to you have on the vehicle?
2. when was the last time the fluids were changed ? :redspot

105,000. I bought the vehicle at 103k. I have no idea if the fluids have been changed. Im deciding on whether I should just do a full fluid flush or not. it seems like it needs it. anyone have any advice on flushing fluids on a 1997 528i?? I was probably going to take it to pep boys.

Here Is An Example Were A Good Pre-purchase Exam Whould Have Save You $$$.

I was fooled... The car just finished the CPO warranty... He had all the service records and everything. =/

Have all your fluids changed at a reputable BMW shop....not pep boys ! For that matter...spend $150.00 and have the car checked out !:D

Good luck !